Northampton….say where?

A country town of Northamptonshire, Northampton is located in the East Midlands of England. For well over 900 years, Northampton has been recognized as the shoe capital of the world and why is that you ask?

Quite simple really- they’ve got a plentiful supply of oak bark and water for tanning, an abundance of leather from local cattle markets and they’re perfectly located geographically for trading and logistics.

Brands such as Dr Martens, Crockett & Jones , John Lobb and Church & Co were all conceived in Northampton and you guessed it- their factories are still located there today (how sweet!). Although the town has slowly evolved its economy to include other sectors, its reputation for skilful craftsmanship and quality shoemaking very much still remains.

But what’s the big deal with handmade shoes other than the generally higher price tags they usually command? Well, for one, you can rest assured that someone dedicated their time fully to work on each individual shoe.

The materials used on handmade shoes are by far superior to their factory made counterparts, where speed and cost are what cuts the bottom line. Also, comfort, fit and durability tend to be much better in a pair of handmade shoes, so all in all, what’s not to like about them?